State

Hundreds Pay Tribute to Speaker Ben Lujan

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Former Sen. Steve Stoddard of Los Alamos, State Auditor Hector Balderas, Ray Powell, Santa Fe Mayor David Coss and nearly all New Mexico representatives and senators joined hundreds of people at the State Capital Building Thursday to pay tribute to Speaker Ben Lujan who lay in state in the rotunda. Photo by Karyl Ann Armbruster
 
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan with his family greeted hundreds of mourners who came to pay tribute to his father. Photo by Karyl Ann Armbruster
 
Dist. 43 Representative-elect Stephanie Garcia Richard shares memories of the Speaker with State Auditor Hector
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NM 599 Interchange Now Open

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The new roundabout at the junction of N.M. 599 and County Road 62 in Santa Fe. Courtesy/NMDOT

The new roundabout at the junction of N.M. 599 and County Road 62 in Santa Fe. Courtesy/NMDOT

NMDOT News:

NMDOT District Five is proud to announce the opening of a new interchange at the junction of N.M. 599 and County Road 62 in Santa Fe.

The newly constructed bridge, ramps and roundabouts give motorists a new and safer way to cross N.M. 599 to reach neighborhoods and facilities on the west side of the city.

The roundabouts are located on each side of the overpass on County Road 62, also known as Caja del Oro Grant Read More

Hazardous Fuels Treatment Planned in Forest

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SFNF News:

Santa Fe National Forest Fire Management has announced that a 20-acre hazardous fuels treatment is planned on the Forest in January and February.

Santa Fe Watershed, Espanola Ranger District:

  • Approximately 20 acres of piles are to be treated at any point in time in the Santa Fe Watershed from Jan. 7 through the end of February, if conditions are favorable
  • The pile burn location is approximately 6 miles East of the City of Santa Fe, 1 Mile East of McClure Reservoir
  • The pile burn is expected to take place while snow is on the ground, which will help keep smoke levels low
  • Smoke from the burning
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Funeral Arrangements Announced for Speaker Ben Luján

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Funeral arrangements for Speaker Ben Luján include a public visitation from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 27 in the Rotunda of the New Mexico State Capitol.

A second visitation will be at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28 at the Ben Lujan Gymnasium in Pojoaque with a 7 p.m. rosary to be recited. 

A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, at The Basilica Cathedral of St. Francis in Santa Fe with interment to follow at Sagrado Corazon de Jesus Cemetery in Nambe.

In Lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the UNM Cancer Center or to the Speaker Read More

Grants Man Arrested for Posting Threats on Internet

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FBI News:

This morning the FBI arrested Paulo Nikko Peral, 20, of Grants, New Mexico, on a criminal complaint charging him with transmitting a threat to injure another in interstate commerce, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 875(c.)

Paulo’s arrest was announced by U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales and Carol K.O. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the Albuquerque Division of the FBI.

Peral made his initial appearance in federal court this afternoon. He remains in federal custody pending a preliminary hearing and a detention hearing, which are scheduled for tomorrow morning.

The criminal complaint alleges Read More

Luján Amendment Passes to Study Broader National Labs Mission

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CONGRESSIONAL News:

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District voted in support of the Conference Report on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 Thursday, which includes an amendment he offered that calls for a study to broaden the mission of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) national laboratories.

A 2012 report by the National Academy of Science (NAS) and a Stimson report in 2009 recommended that the NNSA laboratories transition more fully to a broader national security mission and that a mechanism be put in place Read More

I-25 SB Lanes at Old Pecos Trail Closed Saturday Morning

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NMDOT News:

The New Mexico Department of Transportation will be closing I-25 southbound lanes at Old Pecos Trail in Santa Fe early Saturday morning, Dec. 22.

The lanes will be closed at 3 a.m. to allow workers to erect a large overhead sign structure at the St. Francis Drive interchange and by 5 a.m. should be re-opened.
 

During the closure, southbound I-25 traffic will be detoured onto Rabbit Road and then directed back to the Interstate at St. Francis Drive.

Northbound I-25 traffic will not be affected by the closure. NMDOT urges motorists to proceed through the area with caution, observe Read More

Don’t Let a D.W.I. Crash Your Holidays

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NMDOT News:

SANTA FE – The holidays are here and that means celebrations and parties, many of which include punched up eggnog, champagne and even hot toddies. 

While we’re not saying don’t enjoy yourself, we are saying do NOT get behind the wheel of a car after enjoying these or any other alcoholic beverages. Not even one.

Most people assume the standard breath/blood alcohol content for a D.W.I. conviction is .08. But New Mexico uses the “impaired to the slightest degree” standard, meaning you can be arrested for drunk driving despite being below the usual .08 if you show the Read More

Bingaman, Udall Seek Answers on REAL ID

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today asked the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide New Mexicans with immediate assurances that their travel plans early in the new year will not be disrupted by a federal law governing drivers’ licenses.
 
While the senators support strengthening the standards governing IDs, they are concerned that as many as 38 states – including New Mexico – will not be able to meet the Jan. 15, 2013 deadline to comply with the law.
DHS has previously told the senators that New Mexico drivers’ license
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Udall Issues Statement on Speaker Ben Luján

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STATE News:
 
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall issued the following statement on the death of longtime New Mexico House Speaker Ben Luján Wednesday:
 

 

“Our state lost a great leader, and a great friend, yesterday with the passing of Speaker Ben Luján. For over four decades, Ben was a tireless advocate for the people of New Mexico. Ben was a dedicated public servant, and even a devastating illness could not deter him from the job he had committed to do. He remained steadfast in his service to the people of our state, and he was an inspiration to all who knew him.
 
“Ben came of age
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